Vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus is provided that includes a cap member adapted to sealingly close a fuel port. The cap member includes a rotation-actuated locking mechanism for securing the cap member to the fuel port, and an articulating member movably connected to the vehicle at a pivot point. The articulating member is adapted to move the cap member about the pivot point between a closed position in which the cap member sealingly closes the fuel port and an open position in which the fuel port is open. A vehicle fuel port assembly is also provided.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fuel port sealing apparatus for a vehicle fuel port.

2. Description of the Related Art

Motor vehicle fuel tank closures typically include a vehicle-tethered screw cap that is covered by a fuel door. Because such closures are relatively awkward and/or complicated to manipulate, improved fuel tank closures are desired.

SUMMARY

A vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus is provided that includes a cap member adapted to sealingly close a vehicle fuel port. In an embodiment, the cap member includes a rotation-actuated locking mechanism for securing the cap member to the fuel port. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus also includes an articulating member movably connected to the vehicle at a pivot point. The articulating member is adapted to move the cap member about the pivot point between a closed position in which the cap member sealingly closes the fuel port and an open position in which the fuel port is open. A vehicle fuel port assembly is also provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and inventive aspects of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description, claims, and drawings, of which the following is a brief description:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary motor vehicle including a fuel port sealing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of FIGS. 2 and 3, shown disconnected from a vehicle fuel port;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a cap member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a cap member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing an upper cap portion disconnected from a lower cap portion;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are side views, in cross-section, of a cap member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of FIG. 10, shown disconnected from a vehicle fuel port; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an exemplary motor vehicle including a fuel port sealing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary motor vehicle 20 showing a fuel port sealing apparatus 22 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, fuel port sealing apparatus 22 may be installed in a vehicle body panel 26, such as a rear quarter panel, to provide access to a vehicle fuel tank (not shown).

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views of fuel port sealing apparatus 22 installed in a fuel port 24. In an embodiment, fuel port 24 includes a receptacle 28 received within an opening in vehicle body panel 26. A fuel filler pipe 30 is connected to receptacle 28 and receptacle 28 is in communication with the vehicle fuel tank. The fuel port configuration described herein is not intended to be limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 1 and may include other fuel port designs that are hermetically sealed with fuel port sealing apparatus 22 before and after the vehicle is fueled.

In an embodiment, fuel port sealing apparatus 22 includes a cap member 32 adapted to sealingly close fuel port 24. Cap member 32 includes a rotation-actuated locking mechanism 34 for securing cap member 32 to fuel port 24. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2-5, rotation-actuated locking mechanism 34 includes at least one thread or barb 36 that engages a corresponding thread or barb 38 in fuel port 24 when cap member closes fuel port 24. As shown in FIG. 3, thread or barb 36 may be tapered in an upwardly extending circumferential direction so that cap member 32 is drawn into sealing engagement with fuel port 24 as cap member 32 is rotated. Thread or barb 36 may extend around only a portion of cap member 32, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, such that cap member 32 need only be rotated a predetermined angular distance Θ to lock and unlock cap member 32 from fuel port 24. Alternatively, thread or barb 36 may extend around substantially the entire circumference of cap member 32 or helically coiled around cap member 32, which may require rotation of cap member beyond angular distance Θ to lock and unlock cap member 32 from fuel port 24.

To create a hermetic seal between cap member 32 and fuel port 24, an annular sealing member 40, such as a rubber O-ring and the like, may be secured or connected to cap member 32 and positioned to sealingly engage fuel port 24 when cap member 32 closes fuel port 24. Alternatively, sealing member 40 may be secured or connected to fuel port 24 and positioned to sealingly engage cap member 32 when cap member closes fuel port 24.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, fuel port sealing apparatus 20 also includes an articulating member 42 movably connected to motor vehicle 20 at a pivot point 44. Articulating member 42 may be connected to a body member of vehicle 20, such as body panel 26, at pivot point 44 or may be connected to fuel port 24 at pivot point 44 to form a vehicle fuel port assembly. Articulating member 42 is adapted to move cap member 32 about pivot point 44 between a closed position in which cap member 32 sealingly closes fuel port 24 (see, e.g., FIGS. 2 and 3) and an open position in which fuel port 24 is open (see, e.g., FIG. 4).

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, articulating member 42 includes a generally annular mounting portion 45 disposed around a circumferential outer surface 46 of cap member 32. Cap member 32 is permitted to rotate within mounting portion 45 about an axis A-A, but is inhibited from axial movement by virtue of mounting portion 45 being trapped between a first flange portion 48 and a second flange portion 50 of cap member 32. Mounting portion 45 may be affixed to a bracket 52 that secures mounting portion 45 and cap member 28 for movement about pivot point 44. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, bracket 52 may be configured to accommodate vehicle body panel 28 during rotation of cap member 32 about pivot point 44 so that bracket 52 is substantially hidden by cap member 32 and body panel 26 when cap member 32 is moved to the closed position.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, articulating member 42 may be biased toward the open position by a resiliently compressible member 53, such as a compression spring and the like. In an embodiment, resiliently compressible member 53 is positioned between vehicle 20 and bracket 52. When cap member 32 is unlocked from fuel port 24, resiliently compressible member 53 forces bracket 52 and cap member 32 away from the closed position (see, e.g., FIG. 4) so that a user may readily ascertain that cap member 32 is unlocked prior to operating the vehicle.

Referring to FIG. 7, cap member 32 may include a first cap portion 54 that includes rotation-actuated locking mechanism 34 and a second cap portion 56 that may be separated from first cap portion 54 without first cap portion 54 sealingly disengaging fuel port 24. The interface between first and second cap portions 54, 56 may include a releasable connection mechanism, such as, for example, an adhesive and the like, which is able to withstand the rotative forces imposed on cap member 32 during connection to and disconnection from fuel port 24, but permits separation of second cap portion 56 from first cap portion 54 when second cap portion 56 is significantly impacted. When so configured, first cap portion 54 may also include sealing member 40; however, as noted above, sealing member 40 may be secured or connected to fuel port 24 and positioned to sealingly engage first cap portion 54.

To facilitate locking and unlocking of cap member 32 to and from fuel port 24, respectively, cap member 32 may include one or more gripping features. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, for example, cap member 32 may include a first gripping feature 58 having a pair of recesses 60 that allow a user to hand-grip a bridge 62 between the recesses 60 to rotate cap member 32. Bridge 62 may be sized and/or otherwise configured to displace a logo, such as the name of a vehicle manufacturer.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, cap member may include a second gripping feature 64 in lieu of or in combination with first gripping feature 58. Second gripping feature 64 may include, for example, a plurality of grooves or ridges 66 in second flange portion 48 that assist a user in hand-gripping and rotating cap member 32.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 4, fuel within the vehicle fuel tank may produce vapors that accumulate in the closed fuel port 24 and fuel filler pipe 30. To vent these vapors, cap member 32 may include an optional valve 68, such as a pressure relief valve and the like. When so configured, the vapors vented by valve 68 may be released to the atmosphere through a conduit 70.

Referring to FIGS. 10-12, a fuel port sealing apparatus 122 according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown that is substantially similar to fuel port sealing apparatus 22 described above with at least one exception, namely, an articulating member 142 is at least partially exposed within a vehicle body panel 126. Articulating member 142 is movably connected to motor vehicle 20 at a pivot point 144 and is adapted to move a cap member 132 about pivot point 144 between a closed position in which cap member 132 sealingly closes a fuel port 124 (see, e.g., FIG. 10) and an open position in which fuel port 124 is open (see, e.g., FIG. 11). A resiliently compressible member 153, such as a compression spring, forces cap member 132 away from a closed position (see, e.g., FIG. 11) so that a user may readily ascertain that cap member 32 is unlocked.

The present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the foregoing embodiments, which are merely illustrative of the best modes for carrying out the invention. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that the method and apparatus within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby. This description of the invention should be understood to include all novel and non-obvious combinations of elements described herein, and claims may be presented in this or a later application to any novel and non-obvious combination of these elements. Moreover, the foregoing embodiments are illustrative, and no single feature or element is essential to all possible combinations that may be claimed in this or a later application. 

1. A vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus, comprising: a cap member adapted to sealingly close a vehicle fuel port, the cap member including a rotation-actuated locking mechanism for securing or connecting the cap member to the fuel port; and an articulating member movably connected to the vehicle at a pivot point, the articulating member adapted to move the cap member about the pivot point between a closed position in which the cap member sealingly closes the fuel port and an open position in which the fuel port is open.
 2. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotation-actuated locking mechanism includes a first locking thread or barb adapted to mate with a second locking thread or barb in the fuel port.
 3. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the thread or barb may be tapered in an upwardly extending circumferential direction so that the cap member is drawn into sealing engagement with the fuel port as the cap member is rotated.
 4. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the thread or barb extends around only a portion of the cap member.
 5. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the thread or barb extends around substantially an entire circumference of the cap member or is helically coiled around the cap member.
 6. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 1, further including a sealing member positioned between the cap member and the fuel port.
 7. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the articulating member includes a generally annular mounting portion disposed around a circumferential outer surface of the cap member.
 8. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the cap member is adapted to rotate within the mounting portion, but is inhibited from axial movement by virtue of the mounting portion being trapped between a first flange portion and a second flange portion of the cap member.
 9. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the mounting portion is affixed or connected to a bracket that secures the mounting portion and the cap member to the vehicle for movement about the pivot point.
 10. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the bracket is configured to accommodate a vehicle body panel during rotation of the mounting portion and the cap member about the pivot point so that the bracket is substantially hidden when the cap member is moved to the closed position.
 11. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the articulating member is biased toward the open position.
 12. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 1, further including a resiliently compressible member positioned to bias the articulating member toward the open position.
 13. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the resiliently compressible member includes a compression spring.
 14. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap member includes a first cap portion that includes the rotation-actuated locking mechanism and a second cap portion that may be separated from the first cap portion without the first cap portion sealingly disengaging the fuel port.
 15. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 14, wherein an interface between the first and second cap portions includes a releasable connection mechanism that is able to withstand rotational forces imposed on the cap member during connection to and disconnection from the fuel port, but permits separation of the second cap portion from the first cap portion.
 16. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap member includes at least one gripping feature.
 17. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the gripping feature includes a pair of recesses that allow a user to hand-grip a bridge between the recesses to rotate the cap member.
 18. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the gripping feature includes a plurality of grooves or ridges in the cap member.
 19. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap member includes a pressure regulating valve.
 20. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the articulating member is at least partially exposed with respect to a vehicle body panel.
 21. A vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus, comprising: a cap member adapted to sealingly close a vehicle fuel port, the cap member including a rotation-actuated locking mechanism that includes a first locking thread or barb adapted to mate with a second locking thread or barb in the fuel port; a sealing member positioned between the cap member and the fuel port; an articulating member movably connected to the vehicle at a pivot point and adapted to move the cap member about the pivot point between a closed position in which the cap member sealingly closes the fuel port and an open position in which the fuel port is open, the articulating member including a generally annular mounting portion disposed around a circumferential outer surface of the cap member and a bracket that secures the mounting portion and the cap member to the vehicle for movement about the pivot point; and a resiliently compressible member positioned to bias the articulating member toward the open position.
 22. A vehicle fuel port assembly, comprising: a fuel port; a cap member adapted to sealingly close the fuel port, the cap member including a rotation-actuated locking mechanism for securing or connecting the cap member to the fuel port; and an articulating member movably connected to the vehicle at a pivot point, the articulating member adapted to move the cap member about the pivot point between a closed position in which the cap member sealingly closes the fuel port and an open position in which the fuel port is open. 